It is insensitive of National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to dismiss claims by members of the Police Service of being overworked after they complained that their workload is eating away at their family time.
This comment came yesterday from the president of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Inspector Anand Ramesar. The inspector has been speaking out for officers attached to the Prime Minister’s detail, the Special Branch and officers from Central and Southern Divisions who have complained about being overworked.
Following the claims, Special Branch officers have been lending assistance with the security detail of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley along with members of the Defence Force. But Minister Dillon said on Saturday that securing the Prime Minister is not a 9 to 5 job.
Following the Port-of-Spain City Day of Thanksgiving at the Holiness Revival, Woodbrook, Dillon made a similar statement, adding that the work of security is a time consuming one, not bound by the rigid 40-hour work week.
Dillon added that concerns about manpower shortages is best addressed by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams as the working hours of officers is an administrative one.
Dillon thanked all officers for doing their jobs “quite effectively.” Recently a man was arrested as he was about to enter the Prime Minister’s residence. He had with him marijuana and a grinder for cleaning the prohibited herb. Dillon added there will now be further vetting of civilians with access to the official Prime Minister’s residence at St Ann’s.
He said, “Once you are in the area of security, my friend, there is no time limit as far as security is concerned. If you understand security, you can’t tell what a moment will bring. It’s not a case of working 8 to 4 where you switch off and go home. Security means constant vigilance, 24/7. When I was chief of defence staff, there was no question in terms of time.”
Questioned about Dillon’s take on fatigued officers, Inspector Ramesar said: “A lot of people confuse the role of policeman with the role of the Defence Force. The police has an association that will represent him when there is unfair working methods, unlike the Defence Force which lack recourse. If they want to work people who cannot complain, then there is the Defence Force, but the police has the Police Service Act. We have regulations and we have collective agreements in place. These things are enforcable and this association will enforce them to ensure the quality of life for the police is the best that it can be.”
Ramesar added that police officers are human beings and it is not right for people “to make insensitive comments about how the police should not complain.”
Ramesar said the comments made by Dillon seemed to be a disrespect to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention “that deals with decent working agenda which has international adaption by many countries.”
Absorption of SRPs
On the issue of manpower shortage, Inspector Ramesar said it can be partially addressed in the absorption of close to 3,000 special reserve police officers who will have to meet certain criteria before acceptance into the regular policing fold. He said officers will have to abide by the 2008 absorption method once eligible.
The criteria for absorption will be: two years full-time service, employment records and general ratings must be checked, age restriction will be removed unless the officer has already reached the retirement age of a second division officer; the removal of the academic qualification if the officer would have already spent two years in the service and a further vetting of the candidates to ensure no undesirable enter the police service.
The qualifications to become an SRP are at least three passes in Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, (O’levels), a valid driver's permit and be at least 18 years old.
To become a police officer, any citizen of this country must have at least five O’level subjects, including English Language. Female applicants should be at least four feet tall while their male counterparts should be at least five feet tall. All must have a certificate of good character and be in generally good physical and mental health.